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Glite Dictionary
family Pteroclididae

family Pteroclididae

9.9
A group of birds called sandgrouse that live in dry places
  • noun
  • Specialized
: familia Pteroclididae
  • The family Pteroclididae includes several species of sandgrouses.

Examples

  • Unlike pigeons, the family Pteroclididae has specialized feathers for carrying water.

  • The family Pteroclididae is well adapted to life in arid environments.

  • Birdwatchers often travel to deserts to observe members of the family Pteroclididae.

  • Many members of the family Pteroclididae are found in arid regions.

  • Birdwatchers often travel to deserts to observe members of the family Pteroclididae.

  • The family Pteroclididae is well adapted to life in arid environments.

  • The family Pteroclididae includes several species of sandgrouses.

Synonyms

Pteroclididae
vsfamily Pteroclididae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of birds like sandgrouse that live in dry places and carry water in their feathers to their young

is the same bird family but described more generally without the body and wing detail

Surface Forms

family Pteroclididae singular
families Pteroclididae plural

Morphology

family + Pteroclididae

The phrase is a straightforward taxonomic label: combining 'family' (a scientific grouping) with the taxon name 'Pteroclididae' yields 'the family called Pteroclididae' (a group of related birds). This is a compositional and cross-linguistically common naming pattern, so a learner who knows both constituents can derive the meaning.

Etymology

Family Pteroclididae comes from the old scientific name Pterocles, which uses the Greek root ptero meaning 'wing'. Scientists gave this name to these desert birds because they have strong wings and special feathers that can carry water to their chicks, so the name refers to the birds' wings and their life in dry places.